I have had Pixel 8 Pro from launch and s23 ultra from launch. Just got the s24 plus. I have the Ultra coming in as well. I will update the post when it arrives. One of the two will be returned. I couldn’t make a decision and I didn't want to lose out on the pre order deals.
I will start out with a comparison of the s24 plus to the P8P and then in a few days I will add another post on the Ultra and combine them at some point.
Since I got the P8P I was instantly in love(if such a thing is possible). I have used it non stop and it has been a joy in every way. I have zero complaints in day to day with the Pixel 8 Pro.
But damn if Samsung doesn't just blow up hardware. Sure the s24 plus ain't winning any camera awards. But it takes decent photos and videos. And in every other way but the cameras this phone is stellar.
I did mention the cameras aren't bad? Samsung is doing something very different with how these sensors are taking shots. I think they are borrowing some of Googles old sensor magic. I compared shots in 3 zoom settings from 1 to 10x zoom and I can't tell a difference between the two phones. Obviously at higher zoom the Pixel is going to win but having a decent shot at 10x zoom was pretty impressive.
The screen. Both phones have amazing screens. They are pretty much matched except for a couple things that give Samsung the edge. PWM 495 on s24+, 280 on the P8P. True tone for Android now exists on Samsung using adaptive color tone. So if you like true tone now you can have it on your Android. It is why everyone is complaining about washed out screens. Turn it off people.
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lol.
Haptics are really good on both maybe a slight edge to P8P but they are pretty equal here too.
Speakers again pretty equally matched but the s24 plus has Dolby atmos and just better overall sound but it is very close.
Battery life on both is excellent but even in initial testing the s24 plus is a battery king so far. Two days easy with heavy use and quad HD and adaptive battery off. So if you tweak the settings I bet you could get 3 days. But I need more time to be sure.
Phone quality and reception seems equal.
I have to say it. Yes the P8P is fast. There is no delay and the Tensor g3 is fast. BUT the 8 Gen 3 is next level fast compared to the Tensor and GPU on 8 Gen 3 is a beast. So although P8P is fast and smooth I can tell a difference in speed in certain tasks on the s24 plus. I don't think that it is a deal breaker either way but if I was planning on keeping the phone for 7 years the 8 Gen 3 might fair better but Googles tight integration with hardware and software could make the difference mute. So I wouldn't buy based on processor because both are excellent this year. Just be aware there is a significant difference.
Build quality and design. I love the bay blue and the unique camera Bay on the Pixel. But I also really love the cobalt purple on the s24 plus. It is just about the perfect shade of purple for a guy. The aluminum armor frame is beautiful and durable and light. The fit and finish looks a lot like iPhone to me. If you set the phone down camera side down you could not tell it apart from a iPhone 14 PM if looking from a slight distance. I don't care to copy iPhone but I have to admit it is a good looking phone. The size is just about perfect for a large phone. It has the same screen size as the Pixel but in a very slightly smaller frame. The Pixel is more rounded and feels comfortable too. It is just the s24 plus feels almost bezel less. I have never experienced anything else like it. It is the one thing that might win over the Ultra. It might just come down to comfort and size over cameras and s pen? We will see. It is something you gave to hold in your hand. This is why I think for a regular bar phone the s24 plus might just be the phone of 2024.
OneUI 6.1. I like it. It does copy a lot of design elements from Apple but it is well done. However, there are some design elements in the UI that are old and stale and Pixel UI looks so much cleaner. The settings menu for example has all of these sections with bars and different colored icons, whereas Pixel just has a menu with monochrome icons. Just a much simpler and cleaner layout. It would be an easy update as Samsung has been using the same menu UI for years.
So what I am getting at is while OneUI 6.1 is new and good, it still lacks some of the polish that makes owning a Pixel so much fun. So while Pixel may not have as good hardware it's software more than makes up for most of it.
If I could go back in time and buy the s24 plus instead of the P8P I might. If I had to choose only one I would have to really think about it. The s24 plus is a really good comparison phone to the Pixel 8 Pro. They are very closely matched but the hardware in the s24 plus is better overall with the exception of cameras. If a really good camera is important to you the Pixel 8 Pro is simply the best.
One side note. Generative AI on device works a lot faster on the s24 plus and seems to be a little more detailed than the Pixel 8Pro for whoever is interested.
Ask any specific questions you have and I will be happy to address them as best I can.